Kalanchoe plant named ‘Grace’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Grace’, characterized by its large, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit; large dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large double white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Grace’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Grace’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Hinnerup, Denmark. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new large double-flowered Kalanchoe cultivars withattractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hinnerup, Denmark in September, 2004, of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar KJ 2003 0818, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/080,401, as the female, or seed parent with theKalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ 2001 0934, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,376, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Grace wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin Hinnerup, Denmark in May, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Hinnerup, Denmark since July,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Grace has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Grace’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Grace’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe:

-   -   1. Large, upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Large dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large double white-colored flowers.    -   5. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the cultivar KJ 2003 0818. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differfrom plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0818 in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have longer leaves than plants of        the cultivar KJ 2003 0818.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers with more        petals than plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0818.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar KJ 2003 0818        differ in flower color as plants of the cultivar KJ 2003 0818        have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the maleparent, the cultivar KJ 2001 0934. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differfrom plants of the cultivar KJ 2001 0934 in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have double flowers whereas        plants of the cultivar KJ 2001 0934 have single flowers.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar KJ 2001 0934        differ in flower color as plants of the cultivar KJ 2001 0934        have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Yazmin, disclosed in U.S. Plant patentapplication Ser. No. 11/358,831. In side-by-side comparisons conductedinn Hinnerup, Denmark, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plantsof the cultivar Yazmin in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were broader than plants of the        cultivar Yazmin.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had longer leaves than plants of        the cultivar Yazmin.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Yazmin.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had larger flowers than plants of        the cultivar Yazmin.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe had more petals than        flowers of plants of the cultivar Yazmin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Grace’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a top perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Grace’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Hinnerup, Denmark in a glass-coveredgreenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures were about 19° C., night temperatures wereabout 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 kilolux to 50 kilolux.Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 10-cm containers and receivedlong day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for abouttwo weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long nightconditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants wereabout 15 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Grace.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ            2003 0818, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser.            No. 11/080,401.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar KJ            2001 0934, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,376.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days            at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 24 days            at temperatures of 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth            habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes.            Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Moderately vigorous            growth habit. Appropriate for 10-cm to 13-cm containers.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 28 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Usually about two to three lateral branches            develop per plant. Pinching (removal of the terminal apex)            is not required but will enhance lateral branch development.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 16 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—147A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Length, vegetative plant.—About 12 cm to 14 cm.        -   Width, vegetative plants.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Length, generative plants.—About 4 cm to 7 cm.        -   Width, generative plants.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery;            succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing            foliage, lower surface: 137C. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: 147B; venation, 147A. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: 137C; venation, 137C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 147A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Double flowers arranged singly            in compound dichasial cymes that arises from leaf axis.            Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about 20 to            65 flowers per inflorescence. Flowers not persistent.            Flowers not fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.            Flower initiation and development can also be induced under            artificial short day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of            darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about 82 days are required. Actual time to            flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light            intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance            for about six weeks under interior environmental conditions.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 16 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm to 11 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.2 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ellipsoidal. Length: About 1.8 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: 144C.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: About 45 fused at the base. Length            (largest petals): About 1.4 cm. Width (largest petals):            About 1 cm. Aspect: Slightly upright to eventually recurved.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: 155D. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: 155D tinted with green, close            to 144A.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About            1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;            glabrous. Color, immature and mature, upper surface: 143A.            Color, immature and mature, lower surface: 143B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 60° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect to about 90° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 147A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About five            to ten per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther            size: About 1 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A. Amount            of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 19A. Gynoecium:            Pistil number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About            8 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: 145A. Stigma            shape: Rounded. Stigma color: 145A. Ovary color: Close to            145C.        -   Seed.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Color, immature: 145C. Color, mature: 177A.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Grace’ as illustrated anddescribed.